4 - Pacific values and belief systems
• Ancestors
• Descendants
• Seen and Unseen
• Importance of relationships
Values of pacific
- Pacific cultures share a certain number of values which are common to many islanders.
- They are respect (for elders, for people in positions of authority)
- service (obligation of care between individuals and groups), collectivism (which reflect the way we see the world),
- family (which brings identity and belonging),
- and spirituality (as the cornerstone of traditional values and
cultures).
Respect = Teu le va
The phrase refers to Samoan practices of values and beliefs, to ensure respect and polite communication in any context
The practice of ‘Teu la va’ is to value, cherish, nurture and take care of the ‘va’, the space/relationship
It recognizes the special connections people have within the community (brothers/sisters; male/female; people of higher ranking; …)
Vā = reciprocity, balance and mutual trust
4 pacific values
Family
Respect
Collectivism
Spirituality
Service
Service
Contribution and responsibility
Collectivism
Family
Extended family: the term family is not understood as the nuclear family (typically father, mother and siblings), but as the extended family (with grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and more)
Spirituality
- Spirituality includes spiritual and religious practices
- When it comes to health, turning towards a greater power
can be reassuring.
